Wisconsin DNR Names 240 New Waters as Impaired

240 new waterways are being listed as impaired in Wisconsin. |
Photo: WDIO, File

Associated Press Contributed to this reportNovember 15, 2017 03:29 PM

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has named 240 new waterways as impaired, which means they need plans for reducing pollution.

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The DNR said Wednesday that of those, 183 of them are lakes or river stretches that exceed more restrictive phosphorous standards that took effect in December 2010.

Waterways in Northwest Wisconsin:

Barkers Island, inner beach - Douglas County

Bear Creek - Douglas County

Bluff Creek - Douglas County

Newton Creek - Douglas County

Pokegema River, Douglas County

Upper Eau Claire Lake - Bayfield County

Big Trade Lake - Burnett County

Clam River Flowage - Burnett County

Lac Courte Oreilles - Sawyer County

Lake of the Pines - Sawyer County

Sharon Gayan is director of the DNR bureau for water quality. She says the past five years DNR has assessed more than 6,000 waterways and more than 80 percent are in good condition. This year, she says 35 bodies of water have been removed from the list of those needing management attention.

The 240 impaired waterways may be eligible for state and federal cleanup money.